Launched in 2012 with a $1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, NAU's "program reimagines the college experience by focusing on developing key skills and knowledge areas called competencies," according to a news release. "The online, self-paced degrees are designed for non-traditional students who have work and life experience and want to earn a bachelor's degree for career advancement."

More than half said they expected to accumulate less than $5,000 in debt over the course of the program and 37 percent said they expected to finish their degrees with no debt.

Eighty percent of the students surveyed said they worked full time. The ability to set their own pace, affordability, flexibility and the competency-based model were cited as reasons for enrolling in the program.

NAU's Personalized Learning offers BA and BS degrees in computer information technology, small business administration and liberal arts. More information is available at pl.nau.edu.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at jbolkan@gmail.com.